Puddle-billet rolling and finishing mill.



D. KAUFFMAN, SR.

'PUDDLE BILLET ROLLING AND FINISHING. MILL.

APPLICATION FILED APR-15. 1916- v 1 229,283. Patented June 12, 1917.

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PUDDLE BILLET ROLLING AND FINISHING MILL,

APPLICATION FILED APR. 15. I916.

1 ,2 11 9, 283 Patented June 12, 1917,

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DAVID KAUFFMAN, SR., OF PO'ITSTOWN, PENNSYLVANIA.

. PUDDLE-BILLET ROLLING AND FINISHING MILL.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Janet-a, 191?.

Application filed April 15, 1916. Serial No. 91,474.

To all' 'whom it may concern Be it known that I, DAVID KAUFFn A v, Sn, a. citizen of the United States, residlng at Pottstown, in the county of Montgomery and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Puddle-Billet Rolling and Finishing Mills, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings. v

This invention is a and finishing mill.

In the art of rolling or finishing puddle iron, it has heretofore been necessary to utilize many and separate different operations between the puddle ball and the best bar iron. I

The iron having been formed in balls and worked under the hammer contains considpuddle. billet rolling V erable slag and it is usually passed through a train of rollers to further expel the slag and also to cause the fibers of the iron to lie in one direction, which gives it malleability.

The usual form of trains for the rolling of the iron after it has come from the hammer is that of two rollers arranged vertically to pass the billet in a horizontal direction between the rolls.

' Inorder to complete the puddle ball and the finished product, it is necessary to use several kinds of rolling mills, the firstset, which may be called the forge train, muck train or puddle bar train, the second or merchant bar train, plate mill, rail mill or wire mill and the third is usually a finishing train. This requires no less than two separate and distinct mills for finishing the bar for commercial use. p

In the operation of these mills, there may be employed some ten men to each one of the mills, which makes for a high labor cost in addition to the cost of preparing the original mass or ball of puddle iron.

One object of the invention is to provide a mill wherein the billets are finished complete in one pass.

Another object is to provide a mill wherein the operative steps for producing the best iron bar, from'muck iron are accomplished in one pass.

A further object is to provide a mil in which an adjustment of the rolls of the several trains may be made simultaneously to vary their vertical spaced relation.

Another purpose of the invention is to provide a mill in which the last or finishing train operates to planish thefbarzbefolte it emerges from the mill, the upper roll of the train being to this end yieldingly held against the billet or bar. k

In the one embodiment disclosed, tical form of mill is shown in the panying drawings, in which' Figure 1 is a top plan view; Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the driving side; Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the other side; Fig. 4 is a sectional view on line 44 of Fig. 1 showing the upper roll adjusting element; Fig. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view on the line X-X of Fig. 1; Fig. 6 is a side elevation of the counter-balance members.

This mill may be provided with a base 8 of any suitable form which may be the best adapted to carry the various operative parts thereon in a. secure and rigid manner. This base may be held to the foundation by ordinary foundation bolts 9. Disposed on and carried by. the base 8 are suitable pedestals or bearings 10, 11 and 12 which are shown in conventional form in Fig. 2. Passing through the pedestals 10 and 11 is a shaft 13 which has a bearing in the pedestal 12. On this shaft 13 there are mounted a plurality of miter gears 14. At the left end of the shaft-13 is shown a conventional form of coupling 15 .to enable another shaft to be connected to the shaft 13. The pedestal 12 which is indicated at the right hand end of Fig. 2 has its main bearing transverse of the shaft 13.

Mounted upon the base 8 is a body for supporting the rolls as will be hereafter described, this body having rounded ends 17 and 18.

The pedestals 16 are shown in a spaced relation and upon their inner faces are formed the guide ribs 19. At the lower end of the space between each two of the pedestals is positioned a half-box or half-bearing 20 and disposed above this box 20 is a split box 21. It is preferred not to extend the vertical guide downward beyond a predetermined distance or the distance through which the split box 21.moves. Extending transversely of the rolls and the pedestals, but longitudinally of the mill, an adjusting member 22 is positioned, which cooperates with the lower-half of each split box 21. This adjusting member moves in a horizontalplane and between the several pedestals it is provided with a plurality of angularly positioned faces 23. These faces 23 are so a prac-.

formed that they will act as wedges and co operate with a groove 24 formed in the lower half of each split box 21.. This groove 24 has an angularly directed inner end wall to cooperate with the angular faces 23. Any motion tending to reciprocate the adjusting member 22 will move the lower half of the split box 21 and the box is thus caused to move in a vertical direction. "The split box 21 is provided with channels 25 which cooperate with the vertical guides 19.

Extending transversely of the mill and mounted in the several boxes or bearings are a plurality of rolls which may or may notbe of different shapes.

At the right end of the mill are mounted the first or roughing train of rolls 26 and 27 The roll 26 may be mounted upon a shaft 28 and secured thereto, in any convenient manner, or the roll may be formed integral and have shaft ends projecting therefrom to engage with the half-boxes 21. These rolls 26 and 27, being the first rolls, are made preferably with substantially semi-circular grooves to secure a good frictional engagement with the billet to draw the same between the rolls 26 and 27 and push it into the succeeding trains and, at the same time, the billet is sub ected to a slight squeezing operation which tends to express the slag therefrom.

Mounted upon the shaft 28 is a spur gear or pinion 29 which may be secured to the shaft in any suitable manner. Disposed between the same pedestals and beneath the roll 26 is the roll 27. This roll 27 has substantially the same groove formed in it that the roll 26 has, to more effectually catch and draw in the end of the billet. This roll '27 is mounted in a suitable manner upon a shaft 30 which has a plurality of bearings, one of which is in the lower half-box ofthe first bearing shown at the right in Fig. 2 and is continued outwardly and passes through the pedestal 12. Mounted between the superstructure or the half-bear ng and the pedestal 12 is a miter gear '31 which may be secured to manner. The opposite end of this shaft 30 is carried in a plurality of bearings, one of which is between the pedestals and the other in a pedestal or outboard bearing 32 extending upward from the base. The extreme end of the shaft 30, which projects from the pedestal 32 has mounted thereon a gear 33 secured to the shaft in any suitable manner. Intermediate of the two pedestals, there is a pinion or gear 34, which may be secured to the shaft in any suitable way, the gear 34 cooperating with the gear 29 carried on the shaft 28 of the roll 26.

Disposed vertically in pairs are a pluralityof upper rolls 35, and lower rollsu36. These rolls are shown as being spaced in five vertical pairs and they are mounted upon suitable shafts 37 and 38 which are jourthe shaft 30 in any suitable naled in the upper split box and the lower half-boxes, respectively, iAs'seen in Fig. 3, there are intermeshing spur gears or pinions 39 and 40 mounted upon the ends of the shafts 37 and 38. The gear 40 which is connected to the lower roll imparts a motion to the gear 39, thus causing the rolls to have with a suitable miter gear carried on theshaft 13.

The end '18 of the super-structure is provided with curved sides which form a part of the throat opening, the lower portion of which is occupied'by a removable guiding element 42. This guiding element 42 is pmvided with a downwardly inclined face so I that the billet entering the throat may pass directly into engagement withthe grooved rolls 26 and 27. At the roll side of this removable element, there is positioned a wedge element 43, wh ch materially assists in or aids the passing of two separate billets simultaneously tothe rolls 26 and 27 The rolls 26 and 27, are provided with semi-circular grooves, which grip the billet and tend to draw it in to the train and as it passes to the left, as shown in Fig. 2,

'it comes incontact with the square grooved rolls 35 and 36. In looking at the roll 35, there will be found, formed thereon, three grooves and two collars. These grooves and collars will be seen to be substantially rectangular so that. the relative diameters of the different parts are the same. The

roll 36 it will be observed, has three square collars and two substantially rectangular grooves which cooperate with the corre-' sponding collars and groovesv of the roll 35, As the billet passes through the mill,

the excess slag with its impurities mayreadily drop through the foundation floor as the spaces between the vertical pairs are suflicient for this. .The billet, in its journey through the rolls, is passed successively from muck tp merchant bar and thence to the, best bar iron and'as it emerges from the last trainit comes out he smooth and more or less planished condition.

In the last train of rolls, which may be used for planishing, the roll 44 cooperateswith the roll 45 and, upon inspection of the top plan view shown in Fig. 1, it will be noticed that the shape of the top roll- 44 corresponds to the shape of the bottom roll 36 and the shape of thebottom roll 45 corresponds to the shape of the roll 35. That is I to-say, the top roll 44 is formed with three collars and two grooves while the roll 45 has three grooves and two collars the grooves and collars on the top roll interfitting with the grooves and collars on the bottom roll. This permits the billet to emerge in a substantially horizontal and fiat condition to the table 46 at the lefthand end. Positioned above the table 46 and secured to the walls forming the opening in the end of the body 17, is a shaft 47. Mounted on this shaft 47 are a plurality of counter-weighted or counter-balanced members 48 and 49. These counterbalanced members are so mounted upon the shaft 47 that the counter-Weights 50 and 51 tend to lift the downwardly and forwardly projecting fingers 52 and 53. These fingers carry at their lower ends the flat element or sole piece 56 which at its forward edge is substantially chisel-shaped. This sole 56 constitutes a guide for the flattened billet as it leaves the rolls. The members 48 and 49 have outwardly projecting arms 54 carrying the counterweights 50 and 51 which are adjustable along these arms.

The adjusting member 22, which extends through the several pedestals upon both sides of the mill is adapted to cotiperate with the upper split-boxes 21 simultaneously so that the distance between the several rolls comprising the upper members of the vertically arranged pairs may be varied according to the needs or necessities of the rolling operation. The ends of the super-structure are provided with bosses 58, through which the ends of the adjusting member 22 pass and these ends of the member may be threaded in any suitable manner and may have suitable locking means to engage with the threaded portion. The nuts '59 may be employed as one means of fastening. The bosses 58 are preferably fiat faced to coiiperate with the nuts 59 and through substan tially the center of the bosses is a passage which will permit of the insertion from either end, of the adjusting member 22.

Positioned adjacent to and on the same side as the pedestal 32, another pedestal 60 is provided. This pedestal 60 is provided with a bearing in which a shaft 61 may rotate. Mounted upon this shaft 61 is a pinion 62 for engagement with the gear 33. This will permit an operative connection between the driving power and the roll trains from this side as well as driving by means of the shaft 13 through the coupling 15 upon the opposite side.

The cover plate 63 is adapted to be secured to the super-structure and to the several pedestals by suitable means, one means being shown as cap bolts 64, which hold the frame at the four corners, as shown. Extending longitudinally of the frame, upon both sides, are a series of threaded holes.

' These holes are preferably drilled so that their axes will coincide with the vertical axes of the pedestals and to cooperate or be in line with the top half of the split boxes 21. To cooperate and hold the frame in secure engagement with the pedestals, cap bolts are provided, which pass through the cover frame and into a suitable threaded socket in the upper portion of each pedestal 16. Thus the frame maintains the pedestals in vertical alinement and against horizontal movement when the bolts 64 and the bolts 65 are screwed home. The threaded holes positioned immediately above the upper half of the split boxes 21 are provided ,with suitable adjusting and stop bolts, one form being shown by the bolts 66. The downward pressure of these bolts 66 co6pcrates with the upward thrust of the ad- 'ustin member 22 which bears a ainst the I b 7 {3 lower half of the split boxes 21. Thus there is provided a means for maintaining the upper rolls in a predetermined position. The cover plate 63 may be provided with a web 67 intermediate of its ends and at each end of the frame there may be provided 'suitable connecting ends. By providing a connecting member at each end for the frame and positioning a web through the central portion, to connect with the longitudinal sides, a cover plate is formed of great strength, which will prevent movement of the several parts when the trains are in operation.

In the practical operation of the machine, the rolls may be severally adjusted in order to produce a bar of a predetermined thickness or size. The adjusting means 22, coilperating with the adjusting cap screws, cotiperating with the split boxes provides for an adjustment of the pairs of rolls to suit the conditions required. These several adjustments may be made so that the thickness of the bar may be readily determined and ,the several rolls further by this adjusting means may be separated more or less than their respective preceding or succeeding train. These rolls 35 and 36 may be of other shapes than those illustrated in order to roll other forms of bars, but it is thought preferable that the first trains should be of the shape shown in order that the slag and other refuse may be expressed from the billet and thus produce a more homogeneous iron. The particular form of the first rolls 35 and 36 is such as to cause the fibers of the iron to extend longitudinally of the bar and, therefore to increase the malleability of the iron. The succeeding trains may have peculiar or odd shapes into which it is customary to form the different types and classes of iron that are used in commercial work. Such shapes may be flat strips square bars or they may be round or hexagonal in shape. It will be noticed from the assembly of the mill that the puddle bar or mass may be inserted in its tically slotted at a heated state at one end, through the throat opening and, as it passes successively through the several trains, it emerges from the discharge end on the table in its finished and desired shape. By this one pass, there are saved the several passes which are now necessary in order to produce from the puddle bar Or mass a finished product as well as doing away with the labor of three or four men or possibly more as it is only necessary to have two men to operate this mill.

Minor changes in form and the details of construction, Within the scope of the appended claims, may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of my invention.

What I claim is 1. A rolling mill comprising a hollow base having upstandin sidewalls, each of the side walls being formed with a longitudinally extending passage, the walls being verplurality of points, the slots intersecting said passages, upper and lower boxes disposed in each slot, upper and lower rolls' having their shafts disposed in the boxes, rods disposed in saidpassages and longitudinally shiftable therealong, each of said rods being formed with a plurality of spaced angularly disposed faces engaging each upper box whereby to raise or lower the upper boxes by longitudinally shifting said rods, and means for holding the upper boxes in engagement with said angularly disposed faces of the rods.

2. A rolling mill comprising a hollow base having upstanding side walls, the walls being vertically slotted and each wall being formed with a longitudinally extending passage intersecting said slots, a plurality of lower bearing boxes disposed in the bottoms of said slots below the passage, a plurality of upper bearing boxes disposed in the upper portions of said slots, a plurality of rolls having their shafts disposed in the lower boxes, and a plurality of rolls having their shafts disposed in the upper boxes, members mounted in the passages for longitudinal movement and having a plurality of angularly disposed faces, each engaging with one of said upper boxes, means for longitudinally shifting and adjusting said members, and a plurality of screws extending downward through the walls of the base and into the upper ends of said slots and engaging the upper bearing boxes.

3. In a rolling mill, a plurality of pairs of rolls, the rolls of each pair being relatively movable toward or from each other, means for simultaneously shifting one of the rolls of each pair of rolls toward or from the other roll of the .pair, and means for adjustably limiting the movement of each of said shiftable rolls away from the other roll of the pair.

4. In a puddle bar rolling mill, a base, a plurality of pedestals, split boxes comprising upper and lower sections disposed between said pedestals and guided thereby, an adjustable stop member engaging the upper section of each box, and a slidable member provided with spaced angularly related faces engaging with the lower section of each box, and longitudinally movable to shift the split boxes vertically, tuting a stop limiting the downward movement of the boxes.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

DAVID KAU'FFMAN. s3.

Witnesses:

MARTHA KAUFFMAN, GEORGE M. DIEMEB.

said member consti- 

